XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

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$29,724 - $64,007

Country: United States

Currency: USD

Updated: 12 Dec 2018

Individuals Reporting: 1,262

Job Description for Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)

Speech-language pathology assistants (SLPA) help clients improve their speech skills. Often, speech problems are corrected when a child is young, but adults can also be clients; some may suffer from certain conditions which cause difficulty speaking, so it is important to be sympathetic and understanding of these conditions.

This work is often performed under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist who also provides speech therapy services and usually develops therapy plans. The assistants monitor the progress of clients and keep notes, and then create records, so some computer and word processing skills are required for this position. Many of these positions are found in schools and clinics for speech therapy. Those who work at schools may work inside classrooms or with individual students who need speech therapy. In a clinical environment, the assistant may work with medical professionals, such as doctors, and should always follow their orders and communicate about patients' therapies and progress.

Pathology assistants carry out assessments to determine problems in patients' speech and what therapy should be carried out. When working with children, communication with parents is also important so they can stay up-to-date on their progress and teach speech therapy exercises at home. This position also involves using established methods of therapy, but some creativity is necessary in order to engage with clients. State licensing as a speech-language pathology assistant is generally required for this position. Work hours vary, and some positions are on-call, and there are both part-time and full-time positions available. (Copyright 2018 PayScale.com)

Common Career Paths for Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)

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Speech-Language Pathology Assistants may experience a large salary bump if they progress into a role such as Speech Pathologist. The latter position pays an average of $69K annually. It is not unusual for a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant to become a Speech-Language Pathologist or a Speech Therapy Assistant.

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Job Listings

Popular Skills for Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Survey results show that Speech-Language Pathology Assistants use a fair number of skills. Most notably, skills in Bilingual, Spanish Language, Autism, and Speech Pathology are correlated to pay that is above average, with boosts between 6 percent and 10 percent. Skills that pay less than market rate include Sign Language and English Language. Those familiar with Speech Pathology tend to be well versed in Autism. Most people experienced in Spanish Language also know Bilingual.

Pay by Experience for a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) has a positive trend. An entry-level Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) with less than 5 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $42,000 based on 782 salaries provided by anonymous users. Average total compensation includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay. A Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) with mid-career experience which includes employees with 5 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $50,000 based on 184 salaries. An experienced Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) which includes employees with 10 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $46,000 based on 104 salaries. A Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) with late-career experience which includes employees with greater than 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $53,000 based on 26 salaries.

Pay Difference by Location

For Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, Austin provides a pay rate that is 20 percent greater than the national average. Speech-Language Pathology Assistants can also look forward to large paychecks in cities like Orange (+18 percent), Houston (+17 percent), Los Angeles (+17 percent), and San Diego (+13 percent). In Fayetteville, salaries are 17 percent below the national average and represent the lowest-paying market. Employers in Chicago and Phoenix also lean toward paying below-median salaries (11 percent lower and 7 percent lower, respectively).

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Reviews

Q: What is it like working as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)?

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) in Dublin, California:

"Diverse population."

Pros: Family involvement in treatment

Cons: Commute

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) in Draper:

"Love it!"

Pros: the environment in which i work in

Cons: pay is a little scimpy

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) in New Orleans:

"It's great and has its challenges."

Pros: The camaraderie of the people.

Cons: The lack of synergy in some organizations.

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) in San Antonio:

"Highly rewarding."

Pros: I enjoy working in pediatrics and assisting in advancing the speech and language of children. I work with a variety of disorders such as Autism and Cerebral Palsy. Along with children whom are yet to be diagnosed and developmentally delayed.

Cons: Back-to-back scheduling.

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) in Dallas:

"It is a very rewarding field!"

Pros: The flexibility of the hours, and the fact that we get a 1-on-1 session. The paperwork is minimal, so we get to truly enjoy the work we do with every patient. The pay is great and, depending on the company, the supervisors are great too!

Cons: There is no way "up." Without a Masters, you are stuck in an assistant position forever. No way to grow in the field other than sideways.

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) in Corvallis:

Do not assume that certification credits for SLPA will easily transfer to SLP Master's program.